Time For New Middleweight - What Manufactaurer Will Make It?

Re: Time For New Middleweight - What Manufactaurer Will Make

Here's my $.02:

I would amend Rick's initial post by saying it's time for a new middleweight, shaft driven all-arounder. There are plenty of medium-displacement bikes out there, but none of them hit the bull's eye, as far as I'm concerned.
I live in the heart of a big city, so owning more than one bike is a logistical and financial impossibility for me, given the parking and storage issues, insurance costs, etc. As a result, versatility has become paramount. That's why I came back to the Seca 650.
The bike does virtually everything well. It is ultra-nimble in city traffic, all-day comfortable on the highway, and poised and predictable in the twisties. Its fuel economy, anvil-like reliability, and tiny insurance hit make it extremely cheap to own. But......
The old Seca just doesn't stop and go like a new bike. It is definitely torque and horsepower challenged by modern standards, and the brakes are nothing short of Flintstonian when compared to what is available today.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: The first manufacturer to produce a Seca 650-style bike with up-to-the-minute engine and braking technology gets my money. Probaly ain't gonna happen, though. :cry:

 

Re: Time For New Middleweight - What Manufactaurer Will Make

Honda's '09 CB1100F seems to be just about perfect for the job, except for the "middleweight" part. I'd love to see this exact bike with a 750 or so powerplant.

 

Exactly!

I'd like to see that design in a 850 or 900 cc, Fuel Injected, DOHC, Shaft Drive, 6-Speed.

With an optional, easy to mount and un-mount windshield for all day riding down the Freeway.

I could go someplace far away on a Bike like that!

(There was a time when I could not stuff $3.97 worth of gas in my 900. Today, I paid that much a gallon and didn't get any change for my 12-bucks.

 

Add a realistic and comfortable pillion seat as well please!

 

Add a realistic and comfortable pillion seat as well please!

 

+1.

It will be interesting to see how the new CB1100F sells. I hope it does well. As an old fart who grew up in the seventies, I can't get used to the hooligan-style nakeds that have become so popular in recent years. It would be nice to see the "SJM" architecture make a comeback.
I mean, the Speed Triple, B-King, and Tuono (for example) are great performers, but I would never buy any of them because I hate the way they look, and they totally disregard many of the real-world attributes (versatilility, simplicity, cost of ownership, pillion comfort, etc.) that I look for in a bike
Rick has it about right. A 100 hp, shaft-driven middleweight standard that looks and acts like a "real" motorcycle would be tops on my list. Let's hope the factories are listening.

 

A co-worker of mine (Woman) just bought one of those, and really likes it. Her boyfriend says it's faster and lighter than his Triumph American 750.
I voted Honda in the poll, because I think they are more agressive about reaching out to a potential new market than the other players.
The reason you can only find sportbikes and cruisers at the dealers is because that's where the sales have been recently. Who knows what the next big fad will be and when it will evolve. I've been a bit suprised that big trucks and SUV's have been so popular in the last decade with gas prices steadily rising the whole time. The big rig market didn't slow down until the recent price jump. I would think that fuel prices would drive the market tward a 250cc commuter like the Rebel or the Ninja 250, but maybe the buyer's lust for power and speed will override the thrift instinct.
That's okay. I'm happy with my Maxim. I won't need a new bike for at least another 50,000 miles, as long as I can still get parts.

 

humm i'd kinda like to have a 1100 vstar motor in a sporty type frame myself. not a fan of the large frames at all. but a 650 v star would be good also.

 

Re: Time For New Middleweight - What Manufactaurer Will Make

ditto....

OOOH....AAAAHHH.......

ken k

 

I think I have found my next bike. Now, if I can only afford the dang thing.

It seems to be air cooled, but, i hope it is either shaft or belt drive.

 

when i say sporty i mean sportster type frame not sportbike lol.

 

I'd be ready to wager that the Chinese are looking down this market segment while trying not to drool, realizing that their own market demands in this area are ready to explode. Some maker over there is going to be very, very wealthy.

Rick has my vote of agreement as to the basic structure. While water cooling has a lot of advantages, I personally like air cooling as it is so simple. Surely those smart engineers have a way of quieting the mechanical stir of an air cooled engine? Lately I have acquired a new-found appreciation for the strong, silent type seen and not heard in a lot of solid sport bikes.

To add to Rick's outline, anti-lock discs, nice seat for my old back (heated of course), room for a larger rear tire and the same demi-cruiser looks and riding position of these Maxims would be nice, too.

 

I could do without the anti-lock brakes.
But, add the stainless wrapped lines at the factory.

Give it an Alternator and Regulator that will allow for some decent lighting accessories.
Go LED for all the regular indicators and lights and leave some extra Amps available for accessory lighting.

Build it for the ages.
Make it so all you need to do is change the Oil, get new tires and occasionally replace the brake pads.

And make anything that needs to be replaced inside accessible without tearing down the whole engine to get at it!

 

I think you need to take a look at the Triumph line. Ergonomics and size are there, but no inline four. Don't underestimate the Kawasaki 750 Vulcan. Nice easy handling bike that can do it all.

 

Re: Time For New Middleweight - What Manufactaurer Will Make

The smart money is on the Kawasaki Ninja 650R (ER-6F) but I'm a little bias.

Kiwi

 

For me I think a Triumph Scrambler is the go a good old fashioned do everything bike not the fastest not the best off the tar but capable of pretty much everything the average rider wants to do.That exhaust looks like a worry but various tests seem to think its not an issue.
But its got a chain and fuel injection and thats a bit of worry for a luddite like myself.
Dont get me wrong I love technology but when your fuel injected bike starts missing in the back of the never never, where do you begin your search for faults?
The ER6 or a couple of the 650gs BMWs look allright but the extra 150cc would not go astray and frankly I think a pillion would be a bit more comfortable on the trumpy.
And to be honest I just like old brit twins.

 

Re: Time For New Middleweight - What Manufactaurer Will Make

Kawasaki have attempted to appeal to quite a wide market with the 3 variations of the ER-6. The fully faired Ninja 650R (ER-6F) the naked ER-6N and the dual purpose Versys all based around the 650cc parallel twin engine.

 

Hmmm we only get the Versys and The 650R (ER-6F) no 6N offering :/